Next in importance were the financial measures proposed by the Secretary of the Treasury.

Washington chose for his first Cabinet Ministers: Thomas Jefferson, who had not returned from Paris, as Secretary of State, or Foreign Minister as he was first called; Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury; General Henry Knox, Secretary of War; and Edmund Randolph, Attorney-General.

Of these, Hamilton had to face the most bitter opposition.

Throughout the Revolution the former Colonies had never been able to collect enough money to pay the expense of the war and the other charges of the Confederation.

The Confederation handed over a considerable debt to the new Government.